The Auswine Forum

plenty of online advice / demos, including a step by step run through of what Luke describes for getting the machine up to speed asap.

Unlike our old Gaggia, I'm doing a regular clean using Puly Caff http://www.bellabarista.co.uk/puly-head ... 0gram.html in a 'blanking filter' http://www.bellabarista.co.uk/blanking- ... shing.html (alternatively you could use the rubber blanking disk that comes with the machine). Instructions online. It certainly does visibly clear out gunk, even when cleaning after ~ every 25 shots. It seems to be a little more efficient if the machine is already up to temperature. Cost is minimal as you don't need much of the cleaning product - the water probably costs more!

Talking of water, we learned the hard way about our awful local water, when we sent the Gaggia in for repair. We always twice filtered the water (one with a jug Brita filter, then through the filter inbuilt into the water tank of the Gaggia). Despite this they said "We've never seen this much limescale inside a boiler before. It's significantly reduced the capacity, causing the problem. In addition, there were holes in the boiler, though the limescale had blocked them up". They had a second hand bolier to hand, so the repair wasn't too pricey. These days we use bottled water, though I really should do a bit more research to find the better brands for this use.

My understanding is that bottled water (mineral water) has a high mineral content. The recommendation is too talk to coffee machine suppliers who should be able to point you to a filter supplier who should be able to help you out. I could recommend an online store in Aus, but no idea in the UK.

I am also fairly keen on my coffee and being a tinkerer I managed to pick up a Giotto which I restored which I have paired with a Rossi CC45 grinder.

When you filter the limescale out of our 'snow globe' water, all that is left is air It truly is foul.

I came to this too late. I have a breville Dual boiler. I used to have a high range saeco but the breville shits all over that. I have a cafe across the road from us and another 15 within a five minute walk (I live in Newtown) and none of them make coffee as good as I do on this machine. And believe me, no one was more surprised than me. I buy fresh coffee beans from Campos which is just up the road so they are usually roasted on the day I buy them. I usually buy them about 10 days before I need them.
I have the smart grinder too. Buying these individually will put you back around $2.5k but Hardly Normal often have them as a bundle for around $1800 and often less so it's worth waiting for the sales. It's a sexy machine, looks good on the bench and is easy to clean. I'm super fussy with the cleaning and only use filtered water but the coffee is to die for. Great creama, good frothing - good enough to do latte art - and a full, round, sweet coffee just how I like it.
Even with the Racillo Maxine, to make good coffee the key is fresh beans, a clean machine, the right grind, the right tamp and good water. And keep an eye on your settings.

My folks also have the Breville Dual Boiler and Smart Grinder. An amazing set-up for the price. I would probably go for a different grinder myself. It makes fantastic coffee, wonderful for the price. Don't be put off at all by the Breville name. I've got a great set-up of a Izzo Alex Duetto and a Mazzer MINI ELECTRONIC MOD. A. but really enjoy the coffee I can get out of the Breville. http://www.breville.com.au/thedualboiler-4068.html

See the quote from Craig Simon: The Dual Boiler is the professional Barista’s choice for their home machine. “24.5 out of 25. Ridiculously good.” Craig Simon. Australian Barista Champion

Cheers, Travis.

Brevilles, Saeco's etc are not even in the same class as Expobar, Gaggia, ECM etc.

Its an unfair comparison given the price difference.

The same applies to beans. You can't compare Campos etc to somewhere like say, Aunty Pegs.

Coffee is like wine. You can scratch the surface or you can dig so deep you will never come out.

It is really just a matter of just how serious you want to get.

Have you tired the Breville Dual Boiler Benchmark? It's a serious and well made bit of kit. No Gaggia that I've used, apart from the TS, comes anywhere near the Breville. A mate has a La Marzocco GS3, and while better I'm not sure it's that much better to validate the price differential.

Check out a great review here where Craig Simon reckons "...it compares favourably with $20,000 commercial machines.".

http://www.goodfood.com.au/drinks/home- ... 0301-2fcmm

Or have I misread what you are saying re Breville and price comparison?

Cheers, Travis.

I am sure said barista champ has no affiliation with Breville when he declares that

Ha ha ha. Bugger, the lid's off now.

Anyways, I don't really like the Breville we have in the clinic here which is the Barista Express, but the Dual Boiler with it's E61 grouphead is pretty fine.